Pivoting bow release

ABSTRACT

The invention is a bow release that has two positions; a shooting position and an away position. The release has an elongated member that extends from the wrist band to engage the bow string. This elongated member is attached to a pivoting mechanism that allows the elongated member to rotate 180° therefore freeing the hand of the user. The user is free to use that hand for purposes such as climbing, rattling, grunting, attaching safety equipment and other uses of that hand. The device gives the user the ability to use a free hand making the device safer to use.

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/997,421 filed Oct. 3, 2007.

The present invention deals with a bow release that has two positions. The first position is for shooting and the second position is the away position. The away position is fundamental to the invention in that when the release is in this position the user's hand is free for other activities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bow releases are not new to the art; however the instant invention has the ability to move from the shooting position to the away position leaving the user's hand free for other activities. None of the prior art has the same advantage that is present in the instant invention making it have a greater utility.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,996,059 issued to Vance on Aug. 15, 1961 is a bow release that covers the palm of the hand thus not allowing the user free access to that hand before, during and after shooting without removal of the release.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,041,926 issued to Troncoso Aug. 16, 1971 is a bow release that will free the hand if the user releases it from their grip and hang from the user's wrist. The disadvantage here is that the release is hanging loosely not stationary allowing it to come into contact with other objects producing sound and potentially alarming game that is present creating a disadvantage to the user. The instant device locks into the away position remaining stationary until unlocked.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,426,989 issued to Sutton on Jan. 24, 1984 is a bow string release “that positions over the archers thumb, across the palm of his hand, and secures in position with the strap . . . ” This clearly is a disadvantage as the other prior art by obstructing the hand of the user.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,497 issued to Garvison on Apr. 9, 1985 is a bow release “overlie the palm of the archer's hand . . . ” again obscuring the use of this hand without removal of the bow release.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,508 issued to Greene on Jun. 4, 1991 is a bow release that engages the wrist and crosses the palm of the user clearly limiting the use of the hand without removal of the device.

THE INVENTION

The instant invention is a pivoting bow release comprising in combination a pivoting mechanism, an elongated shaft and a wrist harness.

The pivoting mechanism comprising in combination a pivoting mechanism with a top surface, a bottom surface, an inside surface, an outside surface, a center column with an outside surface, a internal spring, a internal ball bearing, a washer and a locking nut, a elongated shaft extending therefrom and a wrist harness attached thereto.

-   -   The center column extends from the pivoting mechanism top         surface through the pivoting mechanism bottom surface. The         center column has detents opposing each other on the outside         surface of the column. The column has a near end and a distal         end.

The spring and ball bearing acting as a locking mechanism when engaging the detents and the distal end of the column penetrates and the wrist harness. The wrist harness is secured with the locking nut to the center column and to pivoting mechanism.

-   -   The elongated shaft is attached to the pivoting mechanism. The         pivoting mechanism is capable of locking with the elongated         shaft facing away from the wrist harness. The shaft is capable         of rotating 180° degrees and locking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of the pivoting bow release with the pivoting mechanism secured to the elongated shaft.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the sectional view of the pivoting mechanism along line AA.

FIG. 3 is a full side view with the elongated shaft rotated 180°.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the sectional view of the pivoting mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an internal sectional side view of the pivoting mechanism or pivoting mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a full side view of the center column of the pivoting mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a full end view of the top surface of the central column of the pivoting mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is a pivoting bow release that will rotate 180° and lock creating a release with two positions; one for shooting and the other or away position for freeing the hand of the user for other purposes such as climbing, rattling, grunting, attaching safety equipment and other uses of that hand. The prior art devices obscure or obstruct the release hand requiring the user to remove the release to perform other functions. The instant invention creates a situation where the release is essentially a hands free release when it is in the away position. The release is still attached to the arm of the user but the hand is free. This is a substantial advantage over the current prior art.

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of the pivoting bow release 2 with the pivoting mechanism 4 secured to the elongated shaft 6. It is clear from this view that the pivoting bow release 2 is worn by the user with the user's wrist secured by the wrist harness 8. The users hand slides forward along the elongated shaft 6 for engagement of the release 2. The pivoting mechanism 4 is visible along with the top surface 30 at the near end 34 of the center column 18.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the sectional view of the pivoting mechanism 2 along line AA. This is the essence of the invention. The pivoting mechanism 4 allows the pivoting bow release 2 to rotate 180° freeing the hand of the user for their convenience.

FIG. 3 is a full side view with the elongated shaft 6 rotated 180°. It is clear from this view the hand of the user is free to manipulate objects. The user is now capable of climbing, rattling, grunting, attaching safety equipment and any other activity that they desire. The device allows for a greater level of safety with a free hand available. It is clear that the device is still secured to the user via the wrist harness 8.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the sectional view of the pivoting mechanism 4. The top surface 30 of column 18 is stationary. The detent 26, ball bearing 22 and spring 20 are shown in phantom. The elongated member 6 is manipulated or rotated until the ball bearing 22 pops into the one of the detents 26 of column 18 by the force of the spring 20. This is the locking mechanism. The ball bearing 22 and spring 20 lock the column 18 and the pivoting mechanism 4. To change the position of the elongated member 6 the user simply applies pressure to rotate the pivoting mechanism 4 until it locks again. The elongated shaft is either in a forward or reverse position. In other words it is either in a ready to use position or a safe position with a free hand.

FIG. 5 is an internal sectional side view of the pivoting mechanism 4 of the pivoting bow release 2. The main feature here is that the center column 18 is stationary while the pivoting mechanism 4 moves around the column 18 in either a clock wise or counter clock wise direction of rotation. This is possible because the column 18 is secured to the wrist harness 8 via the locking nut 28 at the distal end 36 of the column 18. As the pivoting mechanism 4 rotates the detent 26 engages column 18 by the ball bearing 22 moving via bias pressure of the spring 20. When the ball bearing 22 rests in the detent 26 the pivoting mechanism 4 locks. Simple pressure of the user will advance the pivoting mechanism 4 until the opposing detent 26 is reached and the pivoting mechanism 4 will again lock. The pivoting bow release 2 locks in a forward position, then in the reverse position freeing the user's hand. The column 18 has a bottom surface 12 that rest upon a washer 24 which provides a bottom rotational surface for the pivoting mechanism 4. At the top rotational surface the top surface 10 of the pivoting mechanism 4 passes along the bottom surface 32 of the column 18. The column 18 has an outside surface 38 that passes along the inside surface 14 of the pivoting mechanism 4. The column has top surface 30 at it near end 34. The elongated shaft 6 is attached to the outside surface 16 of pivoting mechanism 4.

FIG. 6 is a full side view of the center column 18 of the pivoting mechanism 4. This view shows the details of the column 18. Visible are the top surface 30, the near end 34 and distal end 36. The detents 26 are located at the outside surface 38 of the column 18.

FIG. 7 is a full end view of the top surface 30 of the central column 18 of the pivoting mechanism 4. This is the near end 34 of the column 18.

The pivoting bow release 2 that has two positions; a shooting position and an away position or hands free position. The release has an elongated member 6 that extends from the pivoting mechanism 4 and wrist band 8 to engage the bow string. This elongated member 6 is attached to the pivoting mechanism 4 that allows the elongated member 6 to rotate 180° therefore freeing the hand of the user. In another embodiment of the pivoting bow release 2 the elongated member 6 is detachable. Still another embodiment allows the user to rotate the elongated member 6 without locking. This device is also capable of being manufactured from metal, plastic, wood, graphite and fiberglass. 

1. A pivoting bow release comprising in combination a pivoting mechanism, an elongated shaft and a wrist harness; said pivoting mechanism comprising in combination a pivoting mechanism with a top surface, a bottom surface, an inside surface, an outside surface, a center column with an outside surface, a internal spring, a internal ball bearing, a washer and a locking nut, a elongated shaft extending therefrom and a wrist harness attached thereto, said center column extending from said pivoting mechanism top surface through said pivoting mechanism bottom surface, said center column having detents opposing each other on the outside surface, said column having a near end and a distal end; said spring and ball bearing acting as a locking mechanism when engaging said detents, the distal end of said column penetrating said wrist harness, and said wrist harness being secured with said locking nut to the center column and to said pivoting mechanism; said elongated shaft being attached to said pivoting mechanism, said pivoting mechanism being capable of locking with elongated shaft facing away from said wrist harness, said shaft being capable of rotating 180° degrees and locking.
 2. A pivoting bow release as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivoting release is manufacture from group consisting of metal, plastic, wood, graphite and fiberglass.
 3. A pivoting bow release as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivoting bow release is capable of locking in at least one position.
 4. A pivoting bow release as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivoting bow release is non-locking.
 5. A pivoting bow release as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivoting bow release elongated member is detachable.
 6. A pivoting bow release as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivoting bow release is attached to a harness using fasteners. 